Fiction Books (Middle Grade)
Over Sea, Under Stone (The Dark is Rising #1) by Susan Cooper
Cooper, S. (1965). Over Sea, Under Stone. Aladdin.
While on holiday in Cornwall, three children discover a map to impossible treasure in the attic of their rental house, with catastrophic consequences. Overall, I really enjoyed the premise of this book, but not the execution. I really liked the setting and the Arthurian legend elements of this story. The pacing was dreadfully slow and the story line was dull up until the middle or second half of the book. I think what really bothered me was that this book is marketed as "fantasy" and there were really not any real fantastical elements in this book. The characters were not exactly memorable, but I did enjoy the dialogue from the older brother, maybe because he seemed to be the most sensible and realistic. The text and spacing of the words as well as the length of the chapters were all realistic in terms of comprehension for a young audience. I suppose that pacing was an obvious problem for me due to the fact that I'm an adult and have always been a faster reader than most. This book, being geared toward younger children, would probably be perfect in pace for someone in elementary school to follow. Moving forward, I would take that into consideration when reading middle grade fiction.
The Dark is Rising (The Dark is Rising #2) by Susan Cooper
Cooper, S. (1973). The dark is rising. Margaret K. McElderry.
In the next installment of Cooper's The Dark is Rising series, we are introduced to Will Stanton, the Sign-Seeker and the last of the immortal Old Ones, tasked with bringing an end to the Darkness. This book has all the trappings of your typical childhood fantasy story: young man has a birthday in which he comes into a prophecy or task he must complete now that he's of age, which will ultimately put him (or her) in mortal peril. This book followed this format and was much more enjoyable than the first one. I found the similarities to the Harry Potter series to be a comfort that I didn't find in the first book. There's still not a lot of magic or fantastical elements, but the ones that exist are more pronounced than in the first book. I thought Will, as a character, didn't have as much development as I would have hoped for, but it's only the second book, so maybe he grows into his own eventually. Again, no other characters were really that memorable to me. The pacing was better in this book, which was a marked improvement over the last one. The text, spacing, and chapter length were all the same as well. I really enjoyed the plot of this book better than the previous installment because there was a clear goal and outline for what Will had to accomplish to unite all the pieces of the Signs of Light. I guess having more components made the plot feel more full. There were still a few things I didn't understand, like how Will was able to accept everything so easily and mature so quickly, but overall an improvement from the last book.
The Hammer of Thor (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard #2) by Rick Riordan (*AUDIOBOOK)
Riordan, R. (2016). Magnus Chase and the gods of Asgard: 2.
In the second installment of Riordan's Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series, Magnus must locate and retrieve Thor's missing hammer before Ragnarok, which seems to always be a constant threat/hope among those dwelling in Valhalla. Magnus sets off with his Valkyrie pal Sam, his best buds Hearthstone and Blitzen, and his new hall mate Alex on a quest to help Thor and prevent Doomsday. This story was very well paced. The Sword of Summer was the first Rick Riordan book I ever read, because I love Norse mythology, and I really enjoyed this one as well. Magnus is an extremely relatable character and his homelessness puts those less fortunate into perspective for younger readers. The location of this series is local in Boston, so it's extremely easy for me to picture the world and where they are in relation to the real world. All of the characters make this story enjoyable, from Blitzen's fashion obsession to Hearthstone's exasperated hand gestures in sign language to Samirah's tough girl attitude, everyone is a joy to read about. Even Magnus's sword is hilarious!
I really enjoy Riordan's writing style. All of the chapters have excellent titles and his wit knows no bounds. The sentences are a bit more complex and there are a lot of unfamiliar words, (even for me!) especially with all the Norse mythology involved in the story. His portrayal of gods and goddesses from multiple mythologies makes them seem more accessible to children, even though they can get a bit outlandish at times. Riordan's attention to detail really impressed me; he's done a fair amount of research on myths for his books, so there is at least some accuracy. This series is geared toward more middle school aged kids because of the content and the size of the typeface (standard for adults), although the chapters are a decent length. There is murder, bloodshed and character traits not often found in middle grade literature. Riordan's choice to add a gender fluid character to his books is a smart one and one many parents may appreciate in today's ever-changing world. There's always been a lot of representation in Riordan's books, (Muslim, deaf, and disabled characters, etc.) and I appreciate that he's taking his inclusion of different types of characters to the next level. I'm looking forward to reading the third and final book in this series when it hits shelves in October!
Chasing the Milky Way by Erin Moulton
Moulton, E. (2014). Chasing the milky way. Philomel.
This middle grade realistic fiction novel follows a girl named Lucy as she attempts to achieve her goal of becoming a famous scientist and leave her rough life in the trailer park behind. Her mother struggles with mental illness and soon puts both her children, and one of the neighborhood kids, in danger by taking them on an unannounced and unplanned road trip. The kids must work together to survive and prevent Lucy's mother from hurting herself as they navigate her complicated situation.
I thought this book was really unique in the fact that it portrayed mental illness in a way that should be relatable to younger readers. The subject matter is difficult, of course, but making it accessible to children is important. Moulton writes with years of experience advocating for children who struggle with mental illness or for children who are affected by adults who struggle with mental illness. She understands coping strategies and and situations that children are often forced into when they encounter mental illness, and it shows in her writing. I will say that the book, much like the others I've read already, started off a bit slower than I would have liked. I think the pace picked up more for me once they started their "road trip." The chapter length was adequate for this book's reading level (grades 3-12) and the typeface was standard size. Honestly, I would recommend this book for children in grades 5 and up because of the subject matter and some of the dialogue.
Keepers of the Labyrinth by Erin Moulton
Moulton, E. (2015). Keepers of the labyrinth. Philomel.
Lilith Bennette wants to be strong in the wake of her mother's mysterious death. When she gets the chance to head to Greece to participate in the Future Leaders International conference, she takes it in the hope that she may find some clues to her mother's past hidden on the island of Crete. After making friends at the conference, it's not long before Lilith and her group are thrown into the actual Labyrinth, forced into a mythological adventure none of them expected. In order to survive and solve the secrets about Lilith's mother, they will have to adapt to their surroundings and accept myths as truths.
This book had serious Percy Jackson vibes, but that's a good thing. The sub genre of magical realism is really popular in both middle grade and teen fiction. Moulton definitely took Greek mythology to the next level with this story, especially in adding the labyrinth element. I really liked Lilith as a strong, female heroine in this story. She took almost everything in stride, which is definitely a testament to her level of courage. As for the side characters, I didn't really find too many of them to be memorable. This book is marketed toward middle grade and teen readers, so I would recommend this book to children in grades 6-12. The writing style will seem similar to Rick Riordan's and the typeface is a standard size. The chapter length was adequate and felt right for the story. I thought the inclusion of Greek mythological elements was done well; not overwhelming at times like Riordan's work. This book was very different than Moulton's usual realistic fiction writing, but I think it was executed well.
Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi
Mafi, T. (2016). Furthermore. Dutton.
This book was so fun to read! Mafi’s writing made this story pop with all of the alliteration and metaphors she used; it bordered on lyrical at times. This is definitely a read for older kids; the typeface is smaller, more akin to adult or teen books, and some of the vocabulary might be difficult for kids younger than 12. The layout was interesting; the author had some separating in terms of very short passages on their own pages speaking directly to the reader, which I thought was very original. Plus, LOOK AT THAT COVER ART! I’m a sucker for gorgeous covers and this one certainly did not disappoint.
Alice Alexis Queensmeadow was born without color into a colorful world, which makes her feel alone and unwanted. Themes of diversity and individuality abound in this novel as Alice attempts to rescue her father, who has disappeared into the unknown land of Furthermore, where magic works in mysterious ways. It definitely has an “Alice in Wonderland” feel to it (maybe that’s why Mafi chose the name “Alice” for her main character?) Slowly, Alice learns to love herself and understand her magical gift. Alice’s personal growth throughout the novel felt natural to the progression of the story. Oliver Newbanks as a companion was a nice contrast to Alice’s constant unsureness; he made me laugh out loud more than once. He’s one of those characters you start off disliking, but end up liking in the end. Overall I found this to be a delightfully whimsical read, perfect for summer!
Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai (*DIVERSE LITERATURE)
Lai, T. (2011). Inside out and back again. Harper Collins.
Chasing the Milky Way by Erin Moulton
Moulton, E. (2014). Chasing the milky way. Philomel.
I thought this book was really unique in the fact that it portrayed mental illness in a way that should be relatable to younger readers. The subject matter is difficult, of course, but making it accessible to children is important. Moulton writes with years of experience advocating for children who struggle with mental illness or for children who are affected by adults who struggle with mental illness. She understands coping strategies and and situations that children are often forced into when they encounter mental illness, and it shows in her writing. I will say that the book, much like the others I've read already, started off a bit slower than I would have liked. I think the pace picked up more for me once they started their "road trip." The chapter length was adequate for this book's reading level (grades 3-12) and the typeface was standard size. Honestly, I would recommend this book for children in grades 5 and up because of the subject matter and some of the dialogue.
Keepers of the Labyrinth by Erin Moulton
Moulton, E. (2015). Keepers of the labyrinth. Philomel.
This book had serious Percy Jackson vibes, but that's a good thing. The sub genre of magical realism is really popular in both middle grade and teen fiction. Moulton definitely took Greek mythology to the next level with this story, especially in adding the labyrinth element. I really liked Lilith as a strong, female heroine in this story. She took almost everything in stride, which is definitely a testament to her level of courage. As for the side characters, I didn't really find too many of them to be memorable. This book is marketed toward middle grade and teen readers, so I would recommend this book to children in grades 6-12. The writing style will seem similar to Rick Riordan's and the typeface is a standard size. The chapter length was adequate and felt right for the story. I thought the inclusion of Greek mythological elements was done well; not overwhelming at times like Riordan's work. This book was very different than Moulton's usual realistic fiction writing, but I think it was executed well.
Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi
Mafi, T. (2016). Furthermore. Dutton.
Alice Alexis Queensmeadow was born without color into a colorful world, which makes her feel alone and unwanted. Themes of diversity and individuality abound in this novel as Alice attempts to rescue her father, who has disappeared into the unknown land of Furthermore, where magic works in mysterious ways. It definitely has an “Alice in Wonderland” feel to it (maybe that’s why Mafi chose the name “Alice” for her main character?) Slowly, Alice learns to love herself and understand her magical gift. Alice’s personal growth throughout the novel felt natural to the progression of the story. Oliver Newbanks as a companion was a nice contrast to Alice’s constant unsureness; he made me laugh out loud more than once. He’s one of those characters you start off disliking, but end up liking in the end. Overall I found this to be a delightfully whimsical read, perfect for summer!
Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai (*DIVERSE LITERATURE)
Lai, T. (2011). Inside out and back again. Harper Collins.
Frazzled: Everyday Disasters and Impending Doom by Booki Vivat (*EBOOK)
Vivat, B. (2016). Frazzled: Everyday disasters and impending doom.
Abbie Wu is about to start middle school and she is FREAKING OUT about it. This book offered what I think is an incredibly accurate portrayal of the beginning of middle school from an entering 6th grader's perspective. The overarching conflict of trying to figure out Abbie's "Thing" was also very sincere and incredibly eye-opening to people who may not have had this experience themselves. I was one of those kids without a "Thing" and constantly struggled with where I fit into the middle school hierarchy. I thought this book provided a realistic portrayal of almost everything: how the lunch system will betray you, 8th grade superiority complex, friendships with real, normal people who are still different than you, middle child syndrome, the layout of the school with the study hall classroom in a separate trailer on the grounds, trying to meet adult expectations, not trusting adults, etc. As a reader, I could relate to almost every scenario Abbie comes in contact with during her first stint as a middle schooler.
As far as content, I thought there was a good mix of text and visuals to help guide the reader along on Abbie's journey. The humor alone kept me riveted to the spot, waiting to see what happens next in her melodramatic life, but the pictures were funny as well. Crude in style, but still descriptive. I loved the illustrator's portrayal of "Skeletor," Abbie's homeroom and study hall teacher. The text was larger than standard typeface, at least in eBook form, which makes me think this book would be accessible to younger kids as well as older kids; obviously this book is ideal for kids going into middle school. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and its take on the beginnings of middle school life for Abbie. I would definitely recommend it, not just to kids, but to adults with middle schoolers as well.
The Iron Trial (Magisterium #1) by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare
Black, H. & Clare, C. (2014). The iron trial.
Although this is a middle-grade series, it had a lot of mature themes and issues within the plot. The plot structure was typical and easy to follow. The typeface was a normal size for older middle school readers, which this book is marketed toward. I liked how each of the main characters felt defined and had a real purpose. I was left guessing the direction of the plot at times and I enjoyed that element of mysticism. I hate being able to guess who will turn out to be the bad guy, where they’re ultimately headed for the final battle, etc. and it was great to be surprised. Overall, I would definitely recommend this to younger readers looking to get into fantasy or any fans of Rick Riordan’s work.
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl (*CHALLENGED BOOK)
Dahl, R. (1996). James and the giant peach.
The incredibly dark subject matter of this book centers around young James Henry Trotter as he loses his parents and the lifestyle he grew up in by way of a terrible and inconvenient rhinoceros accident (talk about questionable plot devices). James is sent to live with what I assume to be his only living relatives, Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker, who do little to nothing to make him feel like more than a slave in their household. One day, James stumbles upon an old man lurking around in their garden (creepy) and he offers James a chance to leave his crumby life behind by ingesting magic fluorescent green bug-like things, which sounds completely legit. Naturally, because James is desperate enough to trust this man, he takes what he's offered and promptly drops the whole thing on the ground, resulting in a gargantuan swollen peach to grow in the desolate garden. What follows is an adventure unlike any other.
Although I love this book, I couldn't help but compare my re-reading to what I remember from the film version, which I also love. The book is short; the copy I had was my original and had somewhat larger typeface and shorter chapters. The movie, in contrast, was super long and added a lot more that wasn't in the book, but would have made it more interesting, in my opinion. One of my favorite parts of the movie is the whole underwater pirate scene, which doesn't happen at all in the book. I also found myself narrating the characters in my head with the voices and personalities they had in the film, although at times it contrasted with what the book had written. Overall, I would still read this book to my children; I think it would actually be better read aloud.
The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials #1) by Philip Pullman (*AUDIO BOOK)
Pullman, P. (1995). The golden compass. Random House.
There are many religious elements to this story as well, fueled by the belief that dust exists as a personification of sin. With all the violence and religious insinuations throughout this book, I'm surprised it appeals to children. At times it got pretty dark and even I was shocked at what the adults associated with the Oblation Board were doing to those poor kids. I found that the narration in the audio book version of this text was extremely enjoyable. Every character had a different voice in the cast recording and the story was narrated by the author, which is always a plus. That being said, I can't necessarily comment on the typeface or spacing of the paragraphs, but the chapters were relatively short and had an adequate amount of action to sustain the wandering reader.
Nonfiction Books
Marie Curie (Little People, Big Dreams #6) by Isabel Sanchez Vegara, Illustrated by Frau Isa, Translated by Emma Martinez
Sánchez, V. M. I., Frau, I., & Martinez, E. (2017). Marie curie.
This book was actually really fun to read! I knew nothing about Marie Curie before reading this book (science is not my strongest subject) so it was neat to read from a children's perspective. Also, the illustrations are ADORABLE! Almost full page illustrations depicting what was said through the text accompanying each page. Although the text was minimal, there is a full timeline and summary of Marie Curie's life in the very back of the book, probably serving as supplemental information for both children and the adults reading to them. There are also photographs of Marie Curie and her family accompanying the biography. The text throughout the book, other than the biography in the back, felt a little too minimal to me, but that may have been because the book was translated from Spanish (the author is originally from Spain and works as a writer and creative designer) which may have affected the final product. I thought the text would be perfect for a smaller child, and the Lexile score indicated this book is suitable for children ages 5-8. Despite the inclusion of factual information, I couldn't find a bibliography anywhere in the book. There is a "further reading" section in which the author has chosen other books on Marie Curie, and even suggests a visit to Marie Curie's office and laboratory in France! Definitely a colorful and insightful read.
Escaping the Nazis on the Kindertransport by Emma Carlson Berne
Berne, E. C. (2017). Escaping the Nazis on the kindertransport.
This may seem morbid, but one of my favorite historical time periods to study is the Holocaust, which is why I chose this book. I'm always curious about how children's authors, especially ones who work in nonfiction writing, depict horrific events like the Holocaust or 9/11 so that children can understand them, but not fear them. This book includes real stories about children who evaded Hitler during World War II. The author consulted with a Fulbright scholar, as well as the president of the Kindertransport Association in the creation of this book. Included in this book are credits for all of the original photographs used throughout the book, a timeline depicting the children's movements between 1933 and 1951, a glossary of important terms, information about the Kindertransport Association, a "further reading" section, internet resources, and common core critical thinking questions, an extensive bibliography, and source notes. All of this denotes the amount of research and time taken to create this book.
This book follows the lives of 7 children affected by the Holocaust and had found passage on the Kindertransport, a train system that brought Jewish children out of Germany and to safety in England. The book first tells of each child's life before the Kindertransport helped them get out of Germany and what antisemitism was like for them and their families. The second portion of the book is dedicated to what happened to the children after they reached safety and beyond, most of them living happy lives into adulthood. I think the pictures added to the text, allowing readers to picture the children describing their lives during this tumultuous time period. It felt like reading a scrap book or diary entry instead of an informational text. This book is meant for kids between the ages of 8-12, but I thought, at times, the text read more for younger children. The sections where a survivor recounted events or recited poetry would fit more in the older age group category, but I felt that the majority of the text was simple with not a lot of difficult or challenging words. The sentences were somewhat complex, being lengthier and including more commas. Overall I thought it was extremely informative and well-thought-out organizationally.
Poetry
The Missing Piece by Shel Silverstein
Silverstein, S. (1976). The missing piece.
What is there to say about Shel Silverstein that hasn't already been said? He's a poetic genius, a staple in any library's children's room or on a child's bookshelf, and he's created a unique and distinct style that is easily identifiable for anyone. This book is actually one of his I haven't already read, which is partially why I chose it. The minimalist art style coupled with the free nonsense verse story about "It" is a winning combination that had me turning each page to see what happened next. The story was cute and told of a rolling orb referred to only as "it" who was on a seemingly never-ending quest to find the missing piece to his pie chart-like body. He encountered many pieces that were not the right fit, and even when he did finally find the right piece, he found that he didn't need it to feel whole.
I loved the message in this story and I loved the way Silverstein told it. I think the underlying message here is not to seek completion in other people, only in yourself. The repetition of the song was a solid reminder of it's goal and, at times, the text took on a different shape and created some depth to the otherwise almost empty page. Silverstein's illustration style is legendary, so I wasn't surprised to see the minimalist black-and-white stick-figure drawings on the page. I think it's brilliant the way he depicted "It" singing his or her song while it's mouth was full of the missing piece it had looked so long and hard for. Silverstein is great at visualizing and writing out sounds we hear everyday or ones we can make ourselves so we can picture in our head, in this case, someone with their mouth full, trying to sing. Overall, I thought it was a great addition to his already stellar collection of verse novels and one with an endearing message at that.
Traditional Literature- Folktale
Stone Soup by Marcia Brown
Brown, M. (1947). Stone soup.
A retelling of an old French folktale, Stone Soup is about three soldiers who wander into a small town in search of sustenance. The villagers, having bad luck with other soldiers in the past, hide their stores in the hopes that these soldiers will move on without trouble. The soldiers, being smarter than your average man, trick the villagers into making a huge soup for everyone to eat made with stones and boost their spirits in the process. I believe there's a moral here about not judging by first impressions or something similar, but I had never heard this story before, so I was surprised by the wit.
Although there seems to be no source notes for the original version of this story, this version was selected as a Caldecott Honor book, for obvious reasons. The illustrations are stunning! Using only about two or three colors in varying shades, the author/illustrator was able to convey everything she needed to in a manner that enhanced the story's text. I'm not sure what the lack of source material says about the author's integrity, but this may be something to look into with her other books as well.
Easy Readers
Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik
Minarik, E. H. (1957). Little bear. Harper & Row.
Picture Books
Please, Mr. Panda by Steve AntonyAntony, S. (2015). Please, Mr. Panda
This book is definitely one centered around morals, mainly being polite. Each time Mr. Panda encounters one of his friends who don't say "please," he changes his mind and walks away. It's a simple and clear message to children. The responses that the other animals make in the story are some that I've actually heard children say at the library to their parents. It's very realistic while also allowing children the chance to correct themselves. The pages consist mostly of a gray matte background, (the exception being the full page spread of a giant killer whale being offered a doughnut by Mr. Panda in a rowboat), pulling the focus solely to the animals in each frame. There is also an element of repetition, with Mr. Panda repeatedly asking everyone if they would like a doughnut, then telling them that he's changed his mind. The lemur at the end of the book has larger text dialogue, which I think helps readers set him apart from other animals who have tried and failed to get a doughnut from Mr. Panda. It emphasizes the lemur's importance as the exception to all the bad-mannered animals and the example to go by when confronted with a similar situation. There's also a bit of humor in this book, at the end, when it's revealed that Mr. Panda has been trying to get rid of the doughnuts because he doesn't care for them. This book snagged my eye because of the cover. It's basically a grumpy-looking panda with a tiny hat on holding a box full of multi-color doughnuts. Plus, I love pandas! This book did not disappoint.
The Crow's Tale by Naomi Howarth
Howarth, N. (2015). The crow's tale: A Lenni Lenape Native American legend.
I really enjoyed the history surrounding this story. Native American myths and legends are so interesting. This origin story about the crow was fascinating. The moral is that it doesn't matter what you look like, but the beauty you possess inside that matters. The text that goes along with this story had a typical rhyming scheme that propelled the story forward. I loved how the illustrator emphasized colors associated with winter and dusk, which in turn emphasized the colors of the crow's wings. The illustrations also took up a full panel; each time a reader turns a page, they are met with two pages worth of art. Upon closer inspection, there are also a lot of diagonal lines and curved lines throughout the book, including the diameter of the crow's wings and the sun's rays. I loved the whimsy of this story and the personification of the sun. These "creation" stories can help children understand things they might not or help them make sense of something's true nature. Crows can seem very menacing and even evil at times, but this story makes them seem less so, even providing a reason for their coloring and their obnoxious caw. It helps everyone make sense of what currently exists and I think that's profound.
Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin
Rubin, A., & Salmieri, D. (2014). Dragons love tacos.
This book is all about the illustrations. The text doesn't rhyme and there's no real pattern to it, but the pictures tell a story of their own. There are small, hidden elements to each picture that illuminate the facts that the main "character" loves dragons, and that dragons in turn love tacos, such as the dragons decorating the dog's collar, or the taco party invitation in one dragon's hand waiting to get inside the house. There is a bit of repetition in some of the text (repeating the word "taco" more times than I could possibly count, "Maybe it's..." etc.) The lighthearted humor of this book caught my attention. I love dragons and tacos, so I thought, what could go wrong here? There are no real morals or anything educational about this picture book, but I think that's the fun of it. I would totally use this book if I was doing a medieval themed program or lesson. I would also consider this book as a contender for a night-time story time book, to be read in pajamas among friends. I don't think there is a wrong way to utilize this book.
Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg
Van, A. C. (1981). Jumanji. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
I absolutely LOVE the movie version of this childhood classic, so I had to re-read it for old time's sake. This book had a lot more words and dialogue, making it perfect for older readers. The illustrations were done in graphite or pencil in a surrealistic style, incorporating fantastical elements into a realistic world. The text of the book is always on the left side while the illustrations are on the right side, which I found interesting. Toward the beginning, I kept feeling an awful sense of foreboding, because I knew what would happen to the characters, but that only enhanced the story for me. There's something truly horrible about the plot of this book, where children are exposed to trials and dangers only experienced in the deepest jungles by trained professionals and not in someone's elaborate sitting room. The story is also unique, having never been duplicated or copied (to my knowledge). The true timelessness of this story is astounding. Upon closer scrutiny, the movie version seemed a lot more formidable that it's literary counterpart. It's always interesting to see what is added, taken out or changed when a film adaptation is created. I think this would be a great book for families to read together.
The Magical, Mystical, Marvelous Coat by Catherine Ann Cullen
Cullen, C. A., & Christiana, D. (2001). The magical, mystical, marvelous coat. Boston, MA: Little, Brown and Co.
This story warmed my heart. I had never heard of this book before I asked the local children's librarian for a recommendation and this was her favorite. The watercolor artwork alone is stunning, not to mention the wordplay on each page. The rhyming was a nice fit for this whimsical book and I enjoyed how the author incorporated some repetition as well ("I went out on..." and "the one that/like..."). I also liked how the author and illustrator took the liberty to have some pages with full color illustrations and minimal text and others were text is dominant with minimal illustrations. The selflessness of the main character is at a level everyone should aspire to be. By the end of her journey, she's depleted of buttons, but has helped so many others by giving only of herself. Her parents reward her with more buttons to do more good with her magical coat. This is a book that families could read together or a librarian could read for a special themed story time.
Nanette's Baguette by Mo Willems
Willems, M. (2016). Nanette's baguette. New York: Hyperion.
I don't think there's anyone on Earth who hasn't heard of Mo Willems and his wonderful books. He is a renowned author and illustrator of children's literature, so I had to read something of his to add to this list. I chose Nanette's Baguette because it's one of his newer books and I've seen enough Elephant and Piggie books to last me a lifetime. I love the art style of Willem's books: they're apparently photographed cardboard and paper creations that are digitally integrated with photographed illustrations, which sounds really intricate. They also really stand out on the page, which is great for telling the story. There's also a lot of rhyming, mainly the "ette" sound, with a few lines of non-rhyming text put in, I believe, for a humorous effect. When you read a book that rhymes this much and suddenly encounter one line of non-rhyming text, you tend to chuckle a bit. I liked that Willem's emphasized Nanette's love of bread with larger illustrations and action words in large print. It broke up the linear progression of the story. The moral about responsibility is still heard while also making light of the fact that everyone makes mistakes sometimes, whether it's because of temptation or distraction or something completely different.
Indie Film
"The Little Prince"
I'm surprised at my ability to formulate a complete sentence after watching this moving and fantastic film. Last year Netflix gained the rights to this independent project to adapt the widely-known and beloved children's novel into a movie and they did not disappoint. The plot was different than the book due to the fact that the book is short, so the film had the elements of the book throughout and created a story line around it, which I thought was beautifully done. I LOVED the animation they used to tell this story; it was a combination of CGI animation and claymation-esq, paper-looking animation during the parts where they are adapting the original book. Bright colors and stark contrasts between the real world and the world of the Little Prince are everywhere. You will sob watching this and if you don't, I don't think your soul is working properly. I don't know what it is about animated old people, but they always get me right in the feels (I'm looking at you "Up"). What's more is that the message of the movie is so uplifting: don't waste your life living someone else's plans. Hold on to your youth. Be yourself and don't let anyone hold you back from exploring your future. I could go on and on about this film, but I'll give you a chance to watch it and make judgments for yourself. Highly recommended, especially for those of you who enjoy exquisite animation and the original work.
App/Game
Buried Alive: Michelangelo's Secret by Time Traveler Tours, LLC
I originally stumbled across this app while reading book reviews in a School Library Journal. There was an add for this app that allowed kids to explore the hidden life of the famous artist and scholar Michelangelo. I've always loved history, so I jumped at the chance to explore this app and see what it was like. It seemed to have a wealth of knowledge about Michelangelo that I didn't already know, which also intrigued me.
This app is only available through the Apple Store, which is great for libraries that use iOS software and Apple products, but not so great for those libraries who don't. The app is compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices. It has a very user-friendly interface with larger buttons to touch and explore the app. Most of the screen is full of content with the menu options on the bottom, including a home screen, search and map button to navigate. The app seems to follow a story-like format, with narrative explaining Michelangelo's historical problems. It's these problems and puzzles kids are meant to solve through interactive games and quizzes. The narrative explanation of Michelangelo's plights can be listened to with audio or read from the screen. Challenges ask kids to search and find answers hidden in Michelangelo's artwork. Kids otherwise unexposed to ancient artwork or sculpture will now be able to look closely at some of the most recognized pieces of artwork in the world and analyze them for clues to help Michelangelo. Engaging in historical content while completing scavenger hunts sounds fun to me! This app has been reviewed and recommended for any family with children traveling abroad in Italy, mainly the region of Florence, where Michelangelo was from.
This app is only available through the Apple Store, which is great for libraries that use iOS software and Apple products, but not so great for those libraries who don't. The app is compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices. It has a very user-friendly interface with larger buttons to touch and explore the app. Most of the screen is full of content with the menu options on the bottom, including a home screen, search and map button to navigate. The app seems to follow a story-like format, with narrative explaining Michelangelo's historical problems. It's these problems and puzzles kids are meant to solve through interactive games and quizzes. The narrative explanation of Michelangelo's plights can be listened to with audio or read from the screen. Challenges ask kids to search and find answers hidden in Michelangelo's artwork. Kids otherwise unexposed to ancient artwork or sculpture will now be able to look closely at some of the most recognized pieces of artwork in the world and analyze them for clues to help Michelangelo. Engaging in historical content while completing scavenger hunts sounds fun to me! This app has been reviewed and recommended for any family with children traveling abroad in Italy, mainly the region of Florence, where Michelangelo was from.
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